Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Human existence in its current form is unsustainable. Urban transport systems are one of
the chief contributors to this problem due to the dominant role of the car. Car dominated
transport systems have a number of serious impacts on social, economic and ecological
systems which collectively suggest they are not sustainable. The complex, global “system of
automobility”, a powerful socio-technical regime, ensures that car dominated transport
systems endure, despite the serious problems they generate.
In the face of the power and resilience of this system, there are examples around the world
of urban areas which have implemented transport initiatives which depart from the
dominant paradigm of automobility. They have successfully provided viable alternatives to
the car, facilitated urban forms which are supportive of green modes and “reconquered”
scarce urban space from the automobile.
However, there are a multitude of barriers to any transition to sustainable urban transport
systems. These can only be overcome through the related processes of contestation and
innovation.
The case of Stellenbosch is a local expression of the global “system of automobility”.
Through a combination of infrastructure, urban form, institutions, beliefs and ways of life,
this system is perpetuated at a local level. In a highly inequitable developing country
context, this is particularly problematic. A town primarily designed to service car mobility is
best suited to the reproduction of the middle class. The poor, and others without access to
a car, are at a disadvantage and movement by green modes is, everywhere, discouraged.
And yet, there are a number of innovative initiatives occurring within the town which depart
from the dominant paradigm, contesting its continued dominance. The path towards
transition is at all times uncertain. However, it is possible to enhance the potential for
transition by strengthening existing niches, contesting existing regimes and preparing for the
imminent increase in landscape pressure generated by climate change and resource scarcity. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Menslike bestaan in sy huidige vorm is onvolhoubaar. Stedelike vervoerstelsels is een van
die belangrikste bydraers tot hierdie probleem weens die oorheersende rol van die motor.
Vervoerstelsels waar die motor die botoon voer het ‘n aantal ernstige gevolge op
maatskaplike, ekonomiese en ekologiese stelsels wat gesamentlik daarop dui dat sodanige
stelsels nie volhoubaar is nie. Die komplekse, globale “stelsel van motorvervoer”, ‘n kragtige
sosio-tegniese regime, verseker dat vervoerstelsels waar die motor die botoon voer in stand
gehou word, ondanks die ernstige probleme wat hulle skep.
Met inagneming van die krag en veerkragtigheid van hierdie stelsel bestaan daar oral in die
wêreld voorbeelde van stedelike gebiede wat vervoerinisiatiewe geïmplementeer het wat
afwyk van die oorheersende paradigma van motorvervoer. Hulle het uitvoerbare
alternatiewe vir die motor suksesvol verskaf, stedelike vorme wat groen gebruike
ondersteun gefasiliteer en skaars stedelike ruimte van die motorvoertuig “herwin”.
Daar is egter ‘n menigte hindernisse in die pad van enige oorgang tot volhoubare stedelike
vervoerstelsels. Dit kan slegs oorkom word deur die verwante prosesse van verset en
innovering.
Die geval van Stellenbosch is ‘n plaaslike uitdrukking van die globale “stelsel van
motorvervoer”. Deur ‘n kombinasie van infrastruktuur, stedelike vorm, instellings, gebruike
en lewenswyses word hierdie stelsel op ‘n plaaslike vlak bestendig en behou. Teen die
agtergrond van ’n uiters onregverdig ontwikkelende land is dit in die besonder problematies.
‘n Dorp wat in die eerste plek uitgelê is om vervoer wat op motors berus, te bedien, is veral
geskik vir die reproduksie van die middelklas. Die armes en diegene sonder toegang tot ‘n
motor word benadeel en beweging met behulp van groen wyses word oral ontmoedig.
En tog kom daar ‘n aantal vernuwende inisiatiewe in die dorp voor wat afwyk van die
oorheersende paradigma wat die voortgesette oorheersing daarvan beveg. Die weg na
oorgang is te alle tye onseker. Dit is egter moontlik om die potensiaal vir oorgang te
verbeter deur versterking van bestaande nisse, bestryding van bestaande regimes en
voorbereiding vir die toenemende druk op die landskap weens klimaatsverandering en die
skaarste aan hulpbronne.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/20442 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Moody, Matthew |
| Contributors | Swilling, M., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. School of Public Leadership. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch University |
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